1. Growing up, your Dad played professional hockey in North America and Europe, do you have any fond memories of life in Europe? I.e., friends or places you go back and visit?

I have a lot of great memories from growing up in Europe. I was fortunate enough to travel to places like Paris and Munich for hockey tournaments, which was a very cool experience. I have a lot of good friends over there that I keep in touch with, and am looking to get over there soon to visit them and play some golf and maybe get to a soccer game.

2. As a child, did you have a particular player or favorite team you followed, and why?

Growing up I was a Red Wings fan even though my Dad played for the Maple Leafs. I just loved the way Detroit played the game and of course the winged wheel! For me Sergie Fedorov was someone that stood out to me as a dynamic player that was fun to watch, and also Steve Yzerman.

3. Talk a little bit about your experience in your youth, playing minor hockey overseas in comparison to playing hockey in North America?

It was pretty unique growing up playing hockey in Europe with North American roots. We got to travel to different countries for tournaments and got to see most of continental Europe. There wasn’t much ice available for us during the week so most of us played roller hockey to work on our skills. We were fortunate enough to have a lot of North American hockey players around that would help coach the minor hockey teams. The biggest adjustment for me coming back over to North America to play was playing around 100 games in a season compared to around 40 that I would play in Europe.

4. Are there any particular people you can credit to getting you to the place you are today in professional hockey?

My dad has always been there for me as some one that has been to the highest level of hockey that I could always lean on. My coach the last two years in Fort Wayne Garry Graham has also really helped me take the next step in pro hockey.

5. Describe your experience of playing hockey for the Michigan State Spartans, as well as the education you received while attending? *Go green

Playing at Michigan State was a real privilege. They treated us like kings there and gave us everything you could ever need as a student athlete. Some of my most fond memories include winning the GLI, playing in the BIG CHILL, and playing in the NCAA tournament, as well as forming life long friendships with my teammates. Education for me has always been a big part of life, and I am continually looking for ways to build off the education I received at MSU. 

6. Describe your feelings stepping onto the ice January 3, 2015, when you got to play an outdoor game against the Toledo Walleye? Did it bring back any childhood memories?

It was a very cool experience getting to play an outdoor game as a pro. I had already played in college vs the University of Michigan at the Big House, so I was used to playing outside. Playing in a baseball stadium against an old team definitely made the game more intense. By the time the game came the conditions were not ideal. It was snowing like crazy in warmup and at puck drop, beautiful from a fans point of view, but really tough to make plays. For the first ten minutes or so both teams were just chipping the puck out and chasing it because nobody could really risk a pass with all the snow build up. Once the snow had stopped however at the end of the first period, the pace really picked up. All of a sudden it was two of the top teams in the league facing each other on the fastest ice you could skate on! I ended up scoring the go ahead goal late in the 2^nd and we went on to win the game in a shootout. It was one of my more memorable nights in pro hockey.

7. Last season your team, Fort Wayne, made it to the Kelly Cup Conference Finals. Speak about that experience, and what it meant to lose to the eventual champion, Allen Americans?

We had a great group last year.  From top to bottom we were very deep and the team chemistry and camaraderie was outstanding. We knew that we had a real shot at a championship, but it was never going to be easy.

Round 1 – I was coming off an injury at the end of the regular season so I was forced to sit out the first two games of the playoffs. We had worked all season for home ice advantage and just like that it was gone, down two games to none heading back to Cincinnati for 3. Game three was my first game of that playoffs and we knew we needed to make a statement. We came out the hardest I’d seen the team play all year and won the game 8-1. The next two games went to double and triple overtime respectively, and while we came away with the first game, the second would go to Cincinnati. We had to take care of business at home, and thanks to our fans and work ethic, and good coaching, we did.

Round 2 – Round two we faced Utah, who had plenty of speed and skill. We had learned our lesson from the first round and knew we needed to get off to a good start. We won the first two and home and went on the road and took two more in Salt Lake City.

Round 3 – We faced Allen for the first time all year so we didn’t really know what t expect going in, but all it took was one warmup scuffle for us to realize it was going to be a physical series. I think what ended up hurting us in the end was too many penalties and not being able to kill them off. Five on five we were arguably the best team in the league but that’s not how championships are won. For us it was very tough to accept defeat.

8. Have you had any interactions with the PHPA? And, are you aware of what the PHPA can offer you as a member?

I am learning more and more every year of what the PHPA can do, and I am very fortunate to have such a great organization fighting on behalf of my rights as a player and person.

9. Throughout your entire career, speak on the best memory you have inside the game of hockey and how it affected your life?

I think getting drafted was a pretty special memory. I remember being on a golf course in Sault Ste. Marie, finishing the round and hearing from the pro shop that I had been selected by the Anaheim Ducks. On the drive home all I could think of was all the people that helped me get there. From growing up in England to getting drafted to the NHL, I thought that was pretty special.

10. As you enter your 5^th full season in the ECHL, where do you see yourself moving forward with your career?

I’d like to keep improving and get to the AHL and beyond while continuing to grow as a person and set myself up for life after hockey.